Tag: cruise advice

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: New Royal Caribbean Deployments for Australia South Pacific Lelepa

by Deb & Matt | Mar 24, 2026 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

Royal Caribbean has officially revealed its 2027/2028 Australia & South Pacific cruise deployment — and we’re breaking it ALL down.

We’re here to discuss the 2027-2028 Royal Caribbean itinerary for Australia! This video breaks down the specific ship details, departure days, and what’s missing from the schedule. Join us for some essential travel tips and cruise news as we share our predictions and thoughts on this exciting australia travel update. We’d love to hear your feedback in the comments!
In this full studio analysis, we dive deep into:

🚢 Which ships are coming to Australia (Anthem & Voyager)
🌴 South Pacific itineraries, ports & destination trends
🇳🇿 New Zealand cruise offerings (and the BIG catch)
📊 Cruise lengths, sailing patterns & departure days
🔁 Island double-ups and itinerary strategy
😮 What surprised us… and what disappointed us

We also take a closer look at:

⁉️Lelepa updates (and what’s missing…)
⁉️Inclusions vs expectations
⁉️Royal Caribbean’s strategy for the Australian market

If you’re planning a future cruise — or just love cruise news — this is your ultimate breakdown of the 2027/28 season.

👇 Let us know in the comments:
Would you book one of these itineraries?

🎥 Chapters
00:00 Intro
02:19 Royal Caribbean Australia Overview
07:20 Ports and Destinations
08:36 Island Cruise Doubles
10:42 New Zealand Destinations
11:23 Lengths of the Cruises
11:42 Anthem Sailing Length
12:07 Voyager Sailing Lengths
13:23 Departure Days
16:21 The New Zealand Catch
17:29 Surprises
18:37 Lelepa Downsides
19:02 Lelepa Inclusions
20:28 Final Thoughts

👍 Don’t forget to LIKE & SUBSCRIBE for weekly cruise news, reviews and deep dives.

#DebAndMattChat #RoyalCaribbean #CruiseNews #AustraliaCruise

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Our Cruise Turned Into a PIRATE PARTY! Full Day Vlog Voyager of the Seas

by Deb & Matt | Feb 28, 2026 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

Sea Day Royal Caribbean on Voyager of the Seas and things got… interesting.

What started with laser tag quickly turned into a full pirate takeover onboard.

Join us for a fun-filled “day in the life” aboard our Royal Caribbean cruise! We kick things off with breakfast, then head straight into an exhilarating “laser tag” battle. Later, we’re planning a lively “pub crawl” and enjoying all the “family fun” activities this “cruise” has to offer.

🏴‍☠️ Pirate pub crawl
💍 A pirate wedding ceremony
🔔 “Captain! Ring the Bell!”
🍽 Main Dining Room lunch
🐘 Towel animal surprises
🎉 Evening parties

Sea days on Royal Caribbean are never boring — but this one was next level. This is certainly not a family friendly day at say – but is definitely LOTS of fun.

If you’re wondering what to do on a cruise sea day, here’s what happened when pirates took over our ship.

👇 Question:
Would you join a pirate pub crawl at sea?

00:00 Voyager of the Seas
00:35 Laser Tag on Royal Caribbean
01:45 Lunch in the Main Dining Room
03:03 Pirates on Royal Caribbean
03:45 A Pirate Wedding on a Cruise Ship
05:53 Pirate Pub Crawl
12:45 Captain! Ring the Bell
14:25 Oh No!
14:42 Towel Animals
15:25 Dinner and Parties

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: No Plans in Luganville… Then We Found This 💙 Santo Blue Hole

by Deb & Matt | Feb 26, 2026 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

Day 7 of our New Year cruise brings us to Luganville on the island of Espiritu Santo — home to some of Vanuatu’s most beautiful natural attractions.

Join us as we document our arrival in Luganville in this latest travel vlog. The ship’s docking process is always fascinating to watch, and we’re sharing our morning routine, including some quick breakfast ideas. This cruise adventure in Vanuatu is full of unexpected moments, even when we have no pre-booked activities.

We arrived with:
❌ No shore tour booked
❌ No fixed plan
❌ No idea what to expect

And then we discovered the breathtaking Nanda (Jackies) Blue Hole. Now on of our Top Travel Recommendations.

Crystal clear freshwater. Lush jungle surrounds. Almost surreal.

Did we accidentally walk into paradise?

After exploring Luganville town and doing a short walking tour, we head back onboard Voyager of the Seas for:

🍝 Giovanni’s Italian dinner
🎉 80s Night
⚓ Anchors Aweigh
🎶 Cruise theme party

If you’re cruising to Santo or Luganville with Royal Caribbean, this is a must-watch port day guide.

👇 Question:
Would you explore without a booked excursion?

00:00 Intro
00:51 Breakfast in Cabin
02:37 No Table
06:18 Tour Options in Luganville
12:32 Did We Find Paradise?
19:10 Included Refreshments
21:49 Santo Blue Hole
28:13 Luganville Vanuatu
34:19 Luganville Shopping
36:04 Leaving Luganville
37:59 Anchors Aweigh
40:36 Giovanni’s Royal Caribbean
46:54 Cruise Theme Party
47:24 80s Night Royal Caribbean
48:07 Coming Up Next

#Luganville #SantoBlueHole
#VanuatuCruise
#VoyagerOfTheSeas
#RoyalCaribbean
#80sNight
#CruiseVlog
#DebAndMattChat

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Horse Riding in Port Vila 🐎 | White Night on Voyager of the Seas

by Deb & Matt | Feb 21, 2026 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

Day 6 of our New Year’s cruise brings us back to Port Vila — and this time it’s adventure day.

Matt ticks off a long-held dream with a beach horse riding tour at Club Hippique, riding through plantations, along the sand, and even into the water.

Meanwhile, Deb and Noah explore:

🗺️How to find duty free in Port Vila
👀Port Vila markets
💵What Port Vila duty free is really like
😥Tips for navigating long tender lines

We then reunite onboard Voyager of the Seas for a stunning sunset sailaway past Lelepa, before heading toward Luganville.

The night continues with:
🍴Main Dining Room dinner
🪜Guest entertainers in the theatre
🤍White Night theme
💃Latin Dance Party
⁉️What “Anchors Away” means onboard
🤔Honest show review

This episode blends:
🐎 Adventure
🌅 Beauty
🎉 Party vibes
🛍 Cruise port tips

👇 Question:
Would you book a horse riding shore excursion on a cruise?

Join Deb & Matt Chat as we share our day two adventures in Port Vila in this vanuatu vlog! We’ll take you along for some duty free shopping with Noah and a memorable horse riding vlog experience. Don’t miss our latest travel tips in this cruise vlog!

#PortVila #VanuatuCruise
#HorseRiding #BeachHorseRide
#VoyagerOfTheSeas
#RoyalCaribbean
#WhiteNight
#DebAndMattChat

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Dear Michael Bayley… We Have 3 Wishes for Royal Caribbean in 🇦🇺👀

by Deb & Matt | Feb 19, 2026 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

We filmed this at dinner onboard ⁨@RoyalCaribbeanAUNZ Anthem of the Seas Cruise Ship— and it might be our cheekiest video yet 😅

Dear Michael Bayley…

We have THREE humble wishes:

🇦🇺 Year-round Royal Caribbean cruising in Australia
🌴 An announcement date for Lelepa
🥧 And… we need to talk about the goat cheese tart

During the Captain’s Corner onboard Anthem, Matt asked about year-round cruising in Australia — and the whole theatre CHEERED. 👏

So we thought… why not make it official?

If you agree with us:

👉 LIKE the video
👉 SHARE it with your cruise friends
👉 TAG Royal Caribbean & Michael Bayley in the comments

Let’s see if this makes it to Miami 👀

#RoyalCaribbean #AnthemOfTheSeas #CruisingAustralia #DebAndMattChat
@RoyalCaribbean
We address Michael Bailey with three requests, focusing on the possibility of year-round cruising in Australia. As dedicated Royal Caribbean cruise ambassadors, we believe the Australian cruise community deserves this exciting development. We offer cruise tips and travel tips for those eager to explore the world on a cruise ship.

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Voyager of the Seas Cabin 8555 Tour | Connecting to 8553

by Deb & Matt | Feb 17, 2026 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

Join Deb & Matt Chat for a detailed room tour of stateroom 8555 on the Voyager of the Seas Royal Caribbean. This cruise vlog provides an inside look at the cabin, perfect for anyone planning a cruise ship vacation. We share all the details and what to expect in this stateroom.

If you’re cruising with family or friends, an interconnecting cabin can make all the difference.
In this video, we tour Cabin 8555 on Voyager of the Seas, an inter-connecting Promenade View cabin connected to Cabin 8553.

This is our first impressions and detailed walkthrough, covering:
✅Storage and wardrobe space
✅Bathroom layout & shower size
✅Bed comfort (firm or soft?)
✅Power points (and the big limitation!)
✅Air conditioning
✅Desk and drawer space
✅Promenade view & bay window
✅Connecting door between 8555 & 8553

If you’re deciding between:
✔️ Interior
✔️ Promenade
✔️ Balcony
✔️ Interconnecting cabins

…this video will help you understand exactly what you’re getting.

📌 Watch our full tour of Cabin 8553 here:
https://youtu.be/PerG673VenI

👇 Question for you:
Would you choose an interconnecting cabin — or prefer separate rooms?

👍 Like & Subscribe for honest cruise cabin reviews
🔔 More Voyager of the Seas content on Deb & Matt Chat

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: “Confidential Discussions” 👀 Royal Caribbean’s BIG Plans for Australia?

by Deb & Matt | Feb 14, 2026 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

We’re currently sailing on Anthem of the Seas and had the opportunity to ask a question during the Captain’s Corner… and the answer has us thinking 🤔

After mentioning he had recently visited Lelepa, the Captain spoke about “confidential discussions” regarding year-round cruising in Australia — and even hinted at the possibility of bigger ships.

Could Royal Caribbean be planning something major for Australia?

In this short update, we share exactly what was said, what it could mean for Aussie cruisers, and why this might be big news for Brisbane and Sydney.

If you love cruising from Australia and want the latest onboard insights, make sure you’re subscribed to Deb & Matt Chat.

🚢 Would you cruise year-round with Royal Caribbean in Australia?
Let us know in the comments!

#RoyalCaribbean #AnthemOfTheSeas #CruisingAustralia #Lelepa #CruiseNews

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Deb & Matt Chat is live from Sydney Harbout on Anthem of the Seaa

by Deb & Matt | Feb 13, 2026 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

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Your support helps us continue to bring you more fantastic cruise content. 🚢💕
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Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Chops Grille on Voyager of the Seas | Lunch vs Dinner | Royal Caribbean Review

by Deb & Matt | Feb 5, 2026 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

Next in our Voyager of the Seas Specialty Dining Series, we’re heading into Chops Grille — and wow… this one had some serious highs and LOWS 🥩😬

Join Deb and Matt as they take you on a detailed cruise vlog journey through the specialty dining experience at Chops Restaurant on Voyager of the Seas. This episode covers both lunch and dinner, providing a comprehensive look at the menu options and our honest opinions on the exquisite cruise food. Get ready for an in-depth review of Royal Caribbean specialty dining!

In this video, we review Chops Grille Dinner first, breaking down:

The dinner menu

🔍Starters and the famous lobster bisque
🔍A steak moment that had us saying “WOW WOW WOW”
🔍NY Strip, desserts… and a few cracks starting to show

Then we return for Chops Grille Lunch, where things take a turn:

🔍The Wagyu burger
🔍Filet mignon
🔍Missing sauce
🔍Questionable service
🔍And yes… we ask: “Is it still worth it?”

We finish with our honest verdict — including value, consistency, and whether Chops deserves your specialty dining dollars on Voyager of the Seas.

This video is part of our 3-part Voyager of the Seas Specialty Dining Series, also featuring:

🍣Izumi (Lunch vs Dinner)
🍝Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen (coming next)

👇 Let us know in the comments:
Have you had Chops Grille recently? Did it live up to the hype?

00:00 Intro
00:19 Voyager of the Seas Specialty Dining
00:40 Dinner Menu – Chops Grille
02:16 Starters
06:43 Lobster Bisque
07:47 WOW WOW WOW
09:15 NY Strip
15:32 Chops Grille Dessert
17:40 Marker 1
19:29 Lunch in Chops Grille
19:49 Chops Grille Lunch Menu
23:23 Cheated?
25:07 Chops Wagyu Burger
25:55 Chops Grille Filet Mignon
27:51 Where’s the Sauce?
28:04 Poor Service?
28:51 Dessert for Lunch
30:42 Final Thoughts
30:54 Unhappy?
33:20 How Could He Forget?
33:30 Is It Worth It?

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: PERFECT Cruise RECOVERY Port Vila Vanuatu

by Deb & Matt | Jan 30, 2026 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

After a huge New Year’s Eve at sea, Day 5 of our Voyager of the Seas New Year’s cruise slows things down as we arrive in Port Vila 🇻🇺.

Join us on a New Year’s Day walking tour of Port Vila, Vanuatu, as we explore the Mummas Markets and areas impacted by a recent natural disaster. This Vanuatu travel experience highlights the resilience of the Vanuatu island community. Discover things to do in Vanuatu and see the local life on Efate Island.

While Deb and Grandma head ashore on the Discover Vila shore tour booked through Royal Caribbean, Matt takes a slower start to the day — recovering onboard with the New Year’s Day Main Dining Room brunch before heading ashore for a short visit.

This episode covers both sides of a port day:

👀The Discover Vila shore excursion
🔍Vanuatu National Museum & sand art
🙏Port Vila War Memorial
🗣️A local perspective on Vanuatu’s tourism recovery following the December 2024 earthquake
🛥️Cruise tenders and temporary dock arrangements
🏪Duty-free shopping (including perfumes… and LEGO 👀)
❔What Port Vila is really like during a cruise visit
🚢Back onboard Voyager of the Seas, we cover:
🍹A must-know Royal Caribbean drinks package tip
🍜Tastes of Asia night in the Main Dining Room
😋Guest food reviews
✨A delayed and underwhelming Dancing Under the Stars deck party
Ending the day on a high note with jazz in the Star Lounge

This is a balanced, honest New Year’s Day cruise vlog — recovery, fun, frustrations, and real conversations.

👇 Question for you:
Do you prefer a full shore tour day, or a slower port day with time onboard?

📌 Chapters below
👍 Like & subscribe for real cruise experiences
🔔 More South Pacific cruise vlogs coming on Deb & Matt Chat

00:00 Intro
00:27 Brunch Special Menu
02:01 Port Vila Shore Excursions
02:33 Discover Vila Shore Tour
03:26 Vanuatu National Museum
04:44 Vanuatu Sand Art
07:48 Port Vila War Memorial
10:26 Vanuatu Earthquake Recovery
10:52 Port Vila Cruise Tenders
11:48 Local Shore Tours
14:00 Port Vila Cruise Visit
16:18 Duty Free in Port Vila
17:19 Duty Free Perfumes
17:45 Duty Free LEGO
21:47 Port Vila Temporary Cruise Tender Dock
22:40 Voyager of the Seas Port Day
25:28 MUST KNOW Royal Caribbean Drinks Package
27:01 Royal Caribbean Tastes of Asia Night
30:29 Voyager of the Seas Main Dining Room
31:51 Guest Food Review
34:38 Deck Party – Caribbean Night Dancing Under the Stars
35:16 FRUSTRATION!
36:52 Star Lounge – Jazz

#portvila #VanuatuCruise #VoyagerOfTheSeas
#NewYearsDayCruise #CruiseVlog
#RoyalCaribbean #DebAndMattChat

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: We Made a BIG Mistake at Mystery Island | Voyager of the Seas

by Deb & Matt | Jan 22, 2026 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

Day 4 of our Voyager of the Seas New Year’s Eve cruise takes us to one of the South Pacific’s most talked-about ports — Mystery Island.

This video is our full cruise-day experience, from the tender process to exploring the island, making a costly mistake (yes… we forgot our wallet 😬), and spending the day swimming, snorkelling and relaxing — with a few unexpected challenges along the way.

We cover:

🚤Tender boats and arrival at Mystery Island
❌What not to do when visiting the island
🦞Lobster lunch prices and island food options
🏝️Walking the island & what there is to see
💲Local markets, airport & facilities (including the toilets!)
😎Pre-booked cabana / bungalow experience
⚠️Snorkelling dangers, tides & safety
🐠Second attempt snorkelling & reef fish
🏖️Family-friendly activities and beach time

Wrapping up the day before New Year’s Eve celebrations onboard

This is an honest, real-world look at Mystery Island — the good, the beautiful, and the parts cruisers need to be prepared for.

👇 Question for you:
Would you snorkel here — or is Mystery Island better enjoyed from the beach?

📌 Chapters below
👍 Like & subscribe for real cruise experiences
🔔 Part 2 (New Year’s Eve onboard) coming next on Deb & Matt Chat

00:00 Intro
00:18 Tender Boats
01:06 Arriving at Mystery Island
04:23 DONT DO THIS!
05:09 Mystery Island Lobster Lunch
08:27 Walking Around Mystery Island
08:43 Wedding Proposal at Mystery Island
10:41 What to See at Mystery Island
12:14 Cost of Tours at Mystery Island
13:55 Mystery Island Cannibal Soup
14:10 Mystery Island Airport
14:56 Mystery Island Airport
15:18 Mystery Island Market Stalls
16:58 Eeek! Toilets
18:23 Mystery Island Tours Cabana
19:54 Snorkelling Danger
21:34 Family Friendly Activities
24:16 Snorkelling Second Attempt
25:41 Snorkel At Mystery Island
29:31 Reef Fish
30:58 Snorkelling on a Cruise
32:49 Snorkelling in Vanuatu
34:08 Mystery Island Massage
38:04 New Years Eve Celebrations 2026

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Tastes of Asia Mystery Trivia and 70s Disco Party on Voyager of the Seas

by Deb & Matt | Jan 20, 2026 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

Day 3 on our Voyager of the Seas New Year’s Eve cruise might just be one of the most fun-packed days of the trip.

Good morning, good morning! It’s “day3” of our cruise, and we have a restaurant booking for lunch at Izumi, but first, we need to sort out a diary conflict. Later, we’re looking forward to the 70s disco party, after some fun “mini golf” and a “family friendly” performance. Join us for another exciting day onboard!

We kick things off with the Royal Murder Mystery Trivia Game, teaming up with friends to solve the case. From there, it’s off to Izumi for specialty dining lunch, followed by some downtime where we create our own fun onboard with a new card game we brought along — Flip 7.

As the sun sets, we head out for mini-golf at sea, before the night really comes alive with:

🥢Dinner in the Main Dining Room
🎤The Music in Pictures show in the Royal Theatre
🪩A full-blown 70s Disco Inferno Party on the Promenade
🎤Late-night entertainment in the Star Lounge

This video perfectly shows how sea days on Voyager of the Seas balance activities, downtime, food and night-time entertainment — especially on longer cruises.

👇 Question for you:
Are you more about organised cruise activities, or do you prefer bringing your own entertainment onboard?

📌 Chapters below
👍 Like & subscribe for real cruise vlogs
🔔 New videos all through this Voyager series on Deb & Matt Chat

00:00 Intro
00:52 A Royal Mystery Trivia Game
03:23 Izumi by Royal Caribbean
03:55 Speciality Dining Lunch
04:36 Make Your Own Entertainment
07:03 Family Friendly Fun
08:36 Putt Putt On
09:50 Cruise Mini Golf
14:35 Voyager of the Seas Main Dining Room
15:39 Dinner on Cruise Ship
20:21 Music In Pictures
23:58 70s Disco Inferno Party

#VoyagerOfTheSeas #CruiseVlog #SeaDay
#RoyalCaribbean #Izumi #CruiseFun
#70sNight #DebAndMattChat